Bio Final Bullshit

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Scientific Method

way to solve problems/answer questions by experimenting.

Observations

info you gather using your senses, based around gathering DATA (Step 1)

Quantitative Data

data gathered through measuring/counting.

Qualitative Data

descriptive data; not numerical.

Hypothesis

A statement that predicts the answer to the research question (Step 2)

Independent Variable

What you are controlling, manipulating, changing.

Dependent Variable

What you are measuring. It depends on the independent variable.

Control Group

Does not receive the independent variable. You compare the experimental group results to the control group.

Experimental Group

Receives the independent variable

Theory

a logical explanation of WHY or HOW things work in nature based on observations and experimentation; supported by much evidence.

Engineering

using the scientific method to create solutions to real world problems; combines math and science.

Characteristics of Life

Qualities that we use to determine if something is alive or not.

1. Made of Cells

2. Organization

3. Use energy

4. Responds to stimuli

5. Growth

6. Maintain homeostasis

7. Reproduction

8. DNA

Metabolism

the chemical reactions that take place in your body.

Stimulus

input from the environment that causes an organism to react.

Voluntary Response

What a living thing chooses to do. In control of the response

Asexual Reproduction

only one organism’s DNA is used.

Sexual Reproduction

DNA from 2 organisms is combined.

Cell

the smallest unit that can carry out all the processes of life (i.e. take in nutrients, get rid of waste, etc). Performs functions with other cells that keep the organism alive, made of organelles

Unicellular

complete living thing made of only one cell.

Multicellular

a living thing made of more than one cell.

Cell membrane

surrounds the cell and controls what passes into and out of the cell.

Cytoplasm

the area between the membrane and the nucleus

Cytosol

gel-like fluid that surrounds organelles.

Tissue

a group of similar cells that carry out a common function, made of cells

Organ

a group of tissues that interact to perform a function(s). Made of tissues

Organ System

group of several organs working together to perform a series of related tasks.

Colonial Organisms

A group of genetically identical cells that live in a closely connected group, consisting of 500-6000 cells, and maintains individual existence, with some being specialized, carrying out specific tasks for the colony

Polar Compound

one end is positively charged and the other is negatively charged.

Hydrogen Bond

the bond between hydrogen and another atom.

Cohesion

same type of particles sticking together (water sticking to water).

Adhesion

water molecules sticking to solid surfaces (ex: water sticking to your window).

Surface Tension

surface film on water that requires force to break through.

Capillary Action

the ability of water to move upwards through a narrow tube.

Aqueous Solution

solution where water is the dissolver (solvent).

Solute

Stuff being dissolved

Acid Rain

acidic rain water results from air pollution; it can alter the pH of bodies of water and kill animals and plants, erode infrastructure.

Enzymes

Proteins that help speed up chemical reactions by lowering the activation energy needed for the reaction to occur. They are called biological catalysts, help speed up catabolic and anabolic reactions, and are reusable

Lactose

sugar found in dairy products (disaccharide)

Coenzymes

Substance that attaches to the enzyme and makes the active site the correct shape

Enzyme Inhibitors

Bind and either change the shape of the enzyme or block the active site - keep the enzyme from working

Anabolism

join molecules to make polymers.

Catabolism

split polymer into monomers.

Macromolecules

Molecules present in living organisms that are needed for survival! LARGE and contain CARBON.

Monomer

a single building block/unit. A single molecule!

Polymer

A chain of building blocks. Multiple monomers bonded together form polymers!

Carbohydrates

Quick Energy (minimal storage), and forms structures of living things/protective. Made up of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. Monomer is called a monosaccharide (simple sugar), with the other form being a disaccharide. Polymer is called a polysaccharide

Lipids

The functions of lipids include storage of Energy (long-term), and serving as structural and chemical messengers. Monomer is called fatty acid/glycerol. Polymer is called saturated fatty acid (has a lot of hydrogens, which is unhealthy fats), unsaturated fatty acid (Double bonds between carbons, which are healthy fats), waxes, and phospholipids

Unsaturated fat

Liquid at room temperature, decreases bad cholesterol and increases good

Saturated fat

Solid at room temperature, increases bad cholesterol and decreases good, leading to clogged arteries

Polypeptide

Chain - twists to make protein structure

pH Scale

Measures how acidic or basic a solution is, measured from 0 - 14

DNA

Stores Genetic Info to make protein, it is the genetic code

All living thing have this to control the actions of the cells, as well as the ability to pass this on to their offspring

RNA

transmit genetic info and directly make protein

Proteins

The chain of amino acids fold into 3-D shape, which determines the protein’s job.

Makes the structures in living things, enzymes, transport, immunity, chemical messengers, controls traffic in/out of cells, and movement of muscles. Monomer is called an amino acid, polymer is called a polypeptide chain

Protein Pumps

Transport small molecules and ions up a concentration gradient (low to high), requires ATP

Plasmolysis

Cell shrinks away from cell wall and turgor pressure decreases

Positive Feedback Loops

The end result (output) causes an amplification (increase) of the stimulus (input) until the action is complete. Not common in biology and the best example is childbirth

Negative Feedback Loops

End results (output) stops/inhibits the stimulus (input); brings back to baseline.

Phospholipid Bilayer

Two layers of phospholipids and proteins

Selective

Picky about what can pass through.

Hydrophilic Head

Face the water, water loving

Hydrophobic Tail

Tails face each other, water hating

Osmosis

The diffusion of water molecules across a selectively permeable membrane from an area of higher concentration of water to lower concentration of water until equilibrium is reached, and is used to maintain cellular balance

Hypotonic

The concentration of solute inside the cell is higher than the concentration of solutes outside the cell. Water moves INTO the cell. Animal cells SWELL and BURST

Isotonic

Cell and outside water are equal in concentration of solute

Hypertonic

The concentration of solute is higher on the outside of the cell than the concentration of solute inside the cell. Water moves OUT of the cell. Animal Cells will SHRIVEL

Tonicity

The state of concentration of a cell

Facilitated Diffusion

Molecules flow from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration but need the help of a channel protein

Active Transport

When molecules move against the concentration gradients and move from an area of low concentration to an area of high concentration. Requires energy in the form of ATP

Passive Transport

Molecules flowing down a concentration gradient (from high → low) is a natural process and does not require energy

ENDOcytosis

Vesicles move substances IN.

EXOcytosis

vesicles move substances OUT.

Homeostasis

A self-regulating process by which an organism can maintain internal stability while adjusting to changing external conditions, the state of biological balance.

Genome

refers to the entire DNA code for an organism.

DNA Replication

using a strand of DNA as a template, make two new strands of DNA.

Mutation

any change in the DNA sequence from its original sequence; may be spontaneous or due to exposure to environmental factors.

Gene Mutations

changes to a single gene (single DNA sequence).

Chromosome Mutations

changes to an entire chromosome OR the gain/loss of an entire chromosome.

Substitution

One nucleotide is replaced by another.

Deletion

a base is lost from the sequence, gene and chromosome mutations

Insertion/Addition

a base is added to the sequence.

FRAMESHIFT MUTATIONS

Causes a new codon sequence to be read at the ribosome (the bases to be read out of the original order).

Cancer

A disease of the cell cycle, uncontrolled cell division.

Gene expression

Molecules/Chemicals can turn certain genes on (expressed) or off (not expressed).

Activator

proteint that recruits RNA polymerase to bind to the promoter (turn gene on)

Repressor

protein that blocks RNA polymerase from binding to the promoter (turn gene off)

Transcription

the process in which segments of DNA serve as templates to produce complementary RNA molecules

Endergonic

Require energy

Exergonic

Release heat/energy

Anabolic

The process where the energy is used to form a bond.

Catabolic

The process where the bond is broken down to release energy.

Promoters

signals/areas in DNA molecules that show RNA polymerase exactly where to begin and there are similar regions that serves as stop codes

Translation

when mRNA is read by tRNA to create an amino acid chain (polypeptide chain) which turns into proteins.

mRNA

Messenger RNA - Carries instructions for polypeptide synthesis from the nucleus to ribosomes in the cytoplasm

tRNA

Transfer RNA - Carries amino acids to the ribosome and matches them to the coded mRNA message

Codons

the genetic code is read in three-letter groupings

Crossing Over

When homologous chromosomes pair up and swap like segments

Bioethics

The idea of whether a scientific act is morally responsible or not.

Selective Breeding

Choosing the “best” traits for breeding.

Transgenic Organisms

Organisms that contain genes from more than one species (or inserted genes).